Members of Hastings County’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee are being urged to promote a proposed project to bring greater internet service to eastern Ontario.
The Eastern Ontario Regional Network GIG project is aimed at bringing fibre service into homes.
Chair Jo-Anne Albert told the committee the area needs better broadband and all members should be “ambassadors” to talk to their MPs and MPPs to indicate how important the service is.
“It’s $200 million they’re asking from the feds and the province each. It’s 1.5% of the $7 billion that they are allocating for broadband. We need to have better broadband in this area.”
“I’m asking all of you to be good advocates out there and really push the MPs and the MPPs to go after the feds and the province to honour this project and to support the project.”
Warden Rick Phillips told the committee, “The EORN project will cover 95% of the entire Eastern Ontario population. The federal government, provincial government have money for internet. Our one GIG project will solve the problem for almost all of us for years to come.”
“The Ontario and federal governments are not sure that’s the way they want to go. Our fear is that they will give out contracts to various providers but many in the rural area will be left out.”
A contract is underway for improved cellular or mobile service throughout eastern Ontario but the GIG project would improve the broadband in homes and businesses.
